Charging-machine.



v H. A. CARPENTER & A. w. WARNER. CHARGING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR-11,19I5.

1,174,389. Patented Mar. 7; 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

\ O 7 -E a ,/r o' f W ITNESSES INVENTORS I i 0 I THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAFH C0,, WASHINGTON, D- C.

H- A. CARPENTER & A. W. WARNER.-

CHARGING MACHINE.

' APPLICATION FILED MAR. 11. 1915.

Patefited Mar. 7, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES 3 WWW 7 gifimgw HENRY A. CARPENTER AND ARTHUR w. WARNER, or SEWICKLEY, PENNSYLVANIA,

ASSIGNORS TO RITER-GON'LEY MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENN- SYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

CHARGING-MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, HENRY A. CARPEN- TER and A THUR W. VARNER, citizens of the United States, residing at Sewickley, in the countyof Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Charging-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

Our present invention relates to improvements in charging machines for gas generating apparatus, and more particularly to the charger operating mechanism.

In operating chargers, and especially of that type in which the carrier for the coal is moved into and out of a retort, an example of which is disclosed in the patent to Carpenter and Hibbard, Number 1,144,165, dated June 22, 1915, wherein the charger is given its longitudinal movements by means of a threaded shaft adapted to be driven by a motor, operating difliculties may occur due to the effects of the coal carbonization in the retorts as well as other causes. For instance, the charger shown in said patent is adapted for use in connection with what are known as through retorts, the charger operating to discharge the incandescent mass during the movement to charging position.

In operation, it is possible during I the movement of the charger in the retort, that it may be subjected to too heavy resisting actions due to the accumulation of the incandescent mass in advance of the charger or through the failure to properly open the discharge end ofthe retort. As the motor must necessarily be of a capacity sufficient to provide the proper operation under general conditions, it will'be understood that should such reslsting' action be present, there is great liability of damage to the equipment, especially to the coal carrier, which in the particular instance noted, is in the form of thin metal scoops of extended length and supported at their inner ends. Another tendency to provide'this resistingaction of pressure is the presence of the carbondeposits within the retort. Where these deposits are sufficiently large to cause the scoops to bind during their movement in the retort, resisting pressure will be provided, especially if the scoops, in moving in the retort should tend to ride upwardly within the retort, the extended length of the scoops be- I .ing such as to cause a slight riding effect at Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Mar, '7, 1916, Application filed March 11, 1915. Serial No. 13,736 I the entrance to be magnified when the scoops have been inserted a considerable distance. To prevent material damage to the motor underthese conditions, a friction clutch has I f been mounted on the threaded shaft, between the. shaft and the motor, a construction of 'this type being'disclosedin the said patent,

but the great tendency to wear, and other difficulties relative to the particular type or f clutch shown are such as to tend to cause In the normal operation of a charging machine of the general type shown in said patent, the length of time the scoops remain within the retort, under proper operation, is

less than20 seconds, a time insufficient to permitma'teri'al damage to the scoops. I However, should a stoppage to themovement of the scoops occur, the time required to relieve the condition, may greatly exceed that period,

unless provision is made to relieve it rapidly. If the stoppage is due simply to an accumulation of material in advance of the charger, the latter being otherwise free, a simple reversal of the direction of movement of the motor will cause the carrier to be rapidly withdrawn. Where, however, the scoops stick or have become bound within the re tort, a simple reversal of the motor'may be insuflicient to provide such withdrawal action.- In prior devices, as for instance the structureof the said patent, it has been the I practice, in such case, to employ some means at the end of the threaded shaft for manually manipulating the shaft in; an attempt to overcome the condition noted, but this necessitated action on the part of the; operator in securing the necessary-tools, .etc.,, to provide the operation, requlring an expenditure of time far exceeding the period of time during which the scoops should remain in the retorts with safety. In the present invention, these difliculties are overcome by the useof a friction clutch of a type which will provide serviceability and which can be readily adjusted to control the amount of friction, thus providing eflicient means for preventing damage to the motor under such stoppage conditions. At the same time, we provide an emergency mechanism normally free from engagement with the shaft-driving mechanism, but positioned to enable the operator to quickly provide connection between such mechanism and the threaded shaft, a construction that will permit the operator to manually exert considerable power on the shaft in the proper direction to aid in the release of the stoppage conditions. The connections of the mechanism are such as to multiply the power with resultant loss of speed; however, as the withdrawal action under this manual operation is of such short duration (since the stoppage is generally of such a character that a very small movement is sufficient to overcome the stoppage condition and permit the motor to provide the normal withdrawal operation), this loss in speed is immaterial.

We prefer to arrange the mechanism in such manner that the movement of parts in bringing the emergency mechanism into operation will automatically break the motor circuit, the mechanism providing'a make and break device in the circuit for the motor.

In the accompanying drawings, in which similar reference characters indicate similar parts in each of the views, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic View showing a charging and a discharging machine with our invention applied thereto, the view also showing a portion of a gas bench having a retort therein. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken through the emergency mechanism and showing a portion of the threaded shaft. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 33 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view taken on line 44 of Fig. 3. Figs. 5 and 6 are detail views of preferred forms of diskstructures employed in connection with the clutch. Fig. 7 is a detail view, partly in section, showing the means employed for operating the emergency mechanism to carry it into and out 'of engagement with the threaded shaft.

The general idea of the present invention is disclosed in Fig. 1, in which 10 designates the frame of a charging machine, and 11 the charger, the latter being operatively connected to a threaded shaft 12 by suitable means such as a nut 13. The shaft 12 is shown as driven by a motor 14 through drive connections indicated generally at 15, the movements of the motor causing the nut to be threaded lengthwise of the shaft and thus cause movements of the charger in the directionof its length. In Fig. 1,

the charger is shown as entered within the retort 16, the showing indicating that the charger is approaching the position at which the retort is charged. The normal position of the charger is below a chute structure indicated conventionally at 17 by means of which a new charge is supplied to the charger at the proper time. As will be reauny understood, the charger may be sub jected to the difliculties heretofore referred to in moving into the retort, and as the scoops are of considerable length (a gener ally accepted length being 16 feet), it will be readily understood that any unusual delay inthe withdrawal of the scoops will subject them to the action of the high temperatures with liability of destruction. The means we employ for tending to prevent damage to the equipment will now be described in detail.

Referring first to Fig. 3, 18 designates a casing mounted on the frame work of the charging machine, and into which the shaft 12 extends, said shaft being shown as provided with a shoulder 12, and a spindle 12 the shoulder and the spindle being located within the casing. 19 indicates the shaft of motor 14, said shaft also extending within the casing 18, and is shown as provided with a gear or pinion 20. Between the gear 20 and the shaft 12 we mount a friction clutch, preferably of the type disclosed herein. This clutch comprises a gear member 21 having an inwardly extending web 21*, the-inner portion of the web terminating in a collar 21, said collar being 'mounted on a bushing 22 located between the casting 23 and, said collar 21.

The casting 23 is preferably of the cross sectional shape shown in said Fig. 3, being provided with an lnwardly pro ecting annular flange 23 spaced from the outer periphery of the casting or member 23. The casting is splined or otherwise secured to the spindle 12 to rotate therewith, but free to move longitudinally of the spindle as may be necessary. 24 designates a member also splined or otherwise secured to the spindle 12, said member being adapted to abut against the shoulder 12, but free to move longitudinally of the shaft in the opposite direction. Said member also carries an inwardly extending annular flange 24 which cooperates with the flange 23 to form a space for the collar 21 and the bushing 22.

7 so arranged and the casin *iji'ziiese shown injdetail Figs..5 and 6, thosefmein- I while'the member 28, is formedto engage the. keys 26, thus placing it in fixed connection with either member 23 or member 24, depending upon thespace within" which it is positioned, As will be understood,a 'plu'- rality' of these members are employed on each side of theweb, and being interleaved, it will be understood that if sufficient force be applied, a frictional engagement will be provided between the two sets of members within the spaces. To'provide. the necessary friction, we preferably employ a suitable compression device or equivalent structure, the device shown being inthe form of a compressionspring 29 mounted between the face of member 2 8 and a washerBO, the amount of compression placed upon-the spring-being adjustable by the me ee nut '31; By'this particulanarrangement, it will be seenthat the spring-29 will tend to move the parts of the clutch toward thev left in Fig. '3, but since the movement of member 24 in this direction is limited by the shoul' 'derf 12 it iwillfbe readily understood that this pressure of the springwilleausethe members 27 and 28 to be frictionally en'- g'aged by reason of the direct pressure placed thereon by the opposing walls of the members 23 and 24 and the web 21, the'gear 21 being movable axially "sueh dis'tance as is from; the motor shaft '19 to the threaded shaft 12 is provided through the gear or pinion 20, gear 21, members 27 and 28, and, members 23 and 241 to the spindle. This drive'arrangement will continueas long as the resistance of the shaft 12 is less than "the friction'produced by the compression pres sure of the spring 29. "When this resistance of'the shaft 12 exceeds such pressure, it will be readily understood that the interleaved members'27' and 28 will move-relatively to each other and thus chang'e'the speed relation between the shafts 12 and 19 even to a point where the shaft 12' actually stops'rotating. As will be understood, a variation in compressive pressure of'the spring 29 will require a variation in amount-of resistance in order to' overcome" the frictional drive. As heretofore stated, this mechanism is located within the casing, and the parts are g so formedas to cause a lubricating action to the members 27 and 28,- this being prov-ided by causing the: gear or pinion 20 to travel within the lubricantwhich transfers it to gear 21 and thusii'eachesthe members 27 and 28;"By providing this lubricating action,'the eX'ces jsive wear usually present infdevices of this type is materlally reduced, thus permitting the proper compression 'of spring 29-to be 'vv'illbe understoodthat the friction debe readily withdrawn so as to prevent mate by the member opposite end formed as'one of the members i v 7 provided, after which the {casing is closed to render it inaccessible to the operator," with surety that the, general frictional relation- "ship between the members will be substantally maintained, 1 in this manner, frequent adjustment "of? refs'sureds' not; required, thereby enabling the 7 us of a substantially thi st-proof casingl" By" this'arrangement, it

veloped withinothei clutch is sufficient to provide'a" direct drive from the shaft 19 to the shaft l2 under'jordinary conditions, the particular amount of resistance whichcan be overcome without afiecting this direct drivebeingdetermined by'tlie pressure exerted by spring '29. Should, however, anin} crease of resistance be provided, as by an aceumulation of material in advance of the charger, ora failure to open the dlscharg ng "door, or a sticking of the charger during its movements into a nd out of the retort,'the slip action "provided by the clutch will enable the motor to Op rate without, damage until the operator is able to remedy conditions.

QNhere the. resistance is provided simply by an accumulationlin [advance of the charger, a reversal' of the direction of rotation of themoton will permit the charger to rial damage to ithe' scoo ps. However, where the resistance s provided by agst ck ng action ofthe scoops; this reversalmay; be insufficientto overcome the resistance, for v I. p p H v the purpose'of remedying, th s conditlon requlred by thls action. As a result, a drive ,and permit the operator of" the machine to take these steps without "delay, we employ emergenoyf mechanismby meansofwhichthe operatorfisable, assoon' as the condition is d scovered, to bring lnto action a manuallyoperated structure connecteddirectly to the 'lshaft112 andby means of which a leverage of considerable power may be placed on the shaftjfor the purpose of relieving the stick :ingcondition. Since this condition is genh operation of the/motor after-the sticking condition 'h asbeen overcome. ;This I emergency mechanism wilt-now 'be desen-bed; designates a shaft carrying pinion 33 at its inner-lend, saidpiniOn'being adapted to mesh avithgear face 2%" carried 2%, the shaft 32 having its of. "a coupling, the -.compl emental member being carrie'di'by the shaft dimountedin "suitable bearings andipr'eferablyl extending. through a tubular portion35. The opposite" end of the shaft 34L isprovided with a journal -86 operatively connected toa lever arm 37 mounted on a shaft 38, said shaft being provided with a foot lever 39 and a suitable counter-weighted device such, for instance, as shown at 40. The shaft 34 preferably extends at an angle to the vertical and the horizontal, the degree of inclination being such as to provide for an efficient application of power by the foot lever 39, to thrust the shaft 34 into engagement wlth shaft 32 by an endwise'movement of the shaft 34, the counter-balance 4O normally holdingthe shaft 34 out of such engagement. -A gear 41 is splined or otherwise secured to the shaft 34, said gear moving with theshaft in a rotational direction, the shaft, however, being permitted to move axially of the gear to provide for the shifting operation referred to. The gear 41 engages a pinion 42 carried by a vertical shaft 43 to the upper end of which is secured an operating wheel 44, the parts being so arranged as to be practically inclosed and therefore practically free from the collection of dust, etc., by the coacting parts. As

will be seen, the gear ratio throughout the connections is in a direction for increasing the power from the wheel 44'to the gear 24 and since the power exerted by the wheel 44 is applied on the threaded shaft 12, it will be readily understood that the power which may be provided manually by the operator is so multiplied in reaching the nut 13 as to cause the manual operation to be sulficient to break the sticking action.

As will be readily understood, while the particular arrangement of multiplying gearing will have the effect of multiplying the power applied to the hand wheel 44, it will also have the effect of multiplying the speed when the source of power is changed to the motor, the speed increase being such as would tend to cause manual operation of the hand wheel 44 to be dangerous. To overcome this effect, we preferably provide means for automatically disconnecting the drive from the motor to shaft, 12 when the emergency mechanism is in service. 'This means may be in the form of mechanism for breaking the circuit for motor 14, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the make and break device being under the control of the foot lever 39 and acting to normally close the motor circuit at thispoint. WVhen' it is desired to operate the emergency mechanism, the movement of the lever 39 in a direction to engage shaft 34 with shaft 32, will automatically break this motor circuit, and retain it broken until the lever is again released. This mechanism is shown diagrammatically in the drawings at 50. As will be obvious, the motor will beinoperative as long as the emergency mechanism is shifted to provide a drive from wheel 44 to shaft 12.

By the particular arrangement shown, it w1ll be obvious that the connections between the shafts 32 and 34 will permit rapid engagement and disengagement, the rapid engagement enabling the operator to brlng the manual operation into effect as quickly as possible, while the rapid disengagement insures against injury to the operator when normal conditions are restored, and the full effect of the motor operation is placed on the shaft 12.

As will be obvious, the emergency mechanism is not adapted for permanent engagement with shaft 12, being arranged to be operatively connected to that shaft only under emergency conditions, the speed of operation being necessarily slow and hence impractical for providing the sole means of manipulating the charger to and from charging position, the time. required for such action being such that the high temperatures of the retort would destroy the charger before it could be withdrawn. The mechanism acts simply as an emergency mechanism for overcoming sticking actions of the scoops, and relieving this action in order to permit the motor to rapidly withdraw the scoops, the operator retaining his foot on the foot lever 39 while manipulating the hand wheel 44. As soon as the release of the sticking condition is sensed by the operator through overcoming the resistance, the foot is withdrawn, permitting the lever to return to its inoperative position under the action of the counter-balance 40, thus again completing the circuit to the motor which then completes the operation entirely independent of the emergency mechanism.

While we have shown a preferred form of emergency mechanism for producing the desired results, it will be understood that changes and modifications therein may be required or desired to meet such conditions, and we, therefore, reserve the right to make any and all such changes or modifications as may be found necessary or desirable in so far as the same shall fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the accompanying claims.

By the particular arrangement shown, it will be understood that the emergency mechanism practically by-passes the motor connections to the threaded shaft. Hence, there is no requirement of varying the degree of pressure placed on the friction clutch when operating the emergency mechanism.

What we claim is I 1. The combination with a charger adapted to be entered into and providing the charging operations for a-retort, and means for moving the charger to provide its normal retort entering and withdrawal movements, of normally-inactive auxiliary means permanently positioned with respect to the charger moving means and adapted to be operatively connected thereto at will for were , ments, of normally-inactivemanuallyropen, v ated, auxillary means permanently posi-s tioned With respect to the chargermoving means. and adapted to be ,operatively. connected thereto at Will for effecting charger.

movements under emergency conditions withmtheretort, said auxiliary meansbeing incapable of providing the normal charging operations. v 3. The combination With a charger adapted to be entered into and providing the V charging operations for a retort, and means including a threaded member for moving the charger to provide its normal retort entering and thdrawal movements, of normally inactive manuallyoperated means permanently positioned Withrespect to the.

charger moving meansand adapted to; be

operatively connected to the threaded mem ber at Will for effecting charger movements under emergency conditionswithin the =retort, said auxillary means bemg incapable;

of providing-the normal charging operations:

be entered into. and providing the charging operationsfor a retort, a threaded member operati vely connected to the charger to provide its retort entering and Withdrawal movements upon rotation of the member, a motor, a clutch device intermediate the motor and the threaded member, said motor and clutch device operating ther'threaded member to provide the normal charging operations of the charger, and normally-inactive manually-operated means permanently positioned with respect to the threaded member and adapted to be operatively connected direct thereto at Will for effecting charger movements under emergency conditions Within the retort.

5. In combination, a charger adapted to be entered into and providing the charging operations for a retort, a threaded member operatively connected to the charger to provide its retort entering and Withdrawal movements upon rotation of the member, a motor, a friction clutch device intermediate the motor and the threaded member, said motor and clutch device operating the threaded member to provide the normal charging operations of the charger, and normally-inactive manually-operated means permanently positioned With respect to the threaded member and adapted to be operatively connected direct thereto at Will for a ar 4:. In combination, a charger adapted toeffecting charger movements under emergency conditions ithin the retort, said de-. vicepermitti'ng action of the manually operated means independent of the motor 6, IllfiOIIlblllZltlOl'], with a charger adapted, to be entered'intoand providing the charging operations fora retort, and means for moving'the:charger to provide its normal retort entering and Withdrawal movements, of normally-inactive auxiliary means permanentlypositioned vvith respect to the charger moving means and adapted to be operatively connected 1 thereto at Will for effecting charger movements nnder, emergency conditionsithin the retort, said latter means including agear train decreasing in-speed to- Ward-jsaid charger moving means, 7

In. combination," a charger adapted to: beentered into a retort, a threaded member operativelyconnected to the charger to provide its retort entering and Withdrawal movements uzpon'rota'tion .of the member, a

motor, and a friction clutch-intermediate the motor and the Zthreadedmember, said clutch device comprising a pair of members, se-

cured to the threaded member, a gear'me'mber free from direct engagement With said pair of members, and having an operative connection With the motorashaft, friction members carried by the gear member, and

friction members-carried by said pair of members, saidfriction members opposingsaid gear member'and the pair -:of members and being arranged in'alternation.

8. In combination, a charger adapted to be entered into a retort, athreaded inember operatively connected to the charger to provide its retort entering and Withdrawal movements upon rotation of the member,'i a motor, and a friction clutch intermediate the motor and the threaded member, said clutch device comprising va pair of members so cured to the threaded member, a gear memher free from direct engagement With said pair of members, and having an operative connection with the motor shaft, friction members carried by the gear member, and friction members carried by said pair of members, said friction members opposing said gear member and the pair of members and being arranged in alternation, and means for applying pressure to said members in directions to provide the frictional engagement.

9. In combination, a charger adapted to be entered into a retort, a threaded member operatively connected to the charger to provide its retort entering, and Withdrawal movements upon rotation of the member, a motor, and a friction clutch intermediate the motor and the threaded member, said clutch device comprising a pair of members secured to the threaded member, a gear member free. from direct engagement With said pair of members, and having an operative connection With the motor shaft, friction members carried by the gear member, and friction members carried by said pair of members, said friction members opposing said gear member and the pair of members and being arranged in alternation, and means for applying adjustably regulated pressure to said members in directions to provide the frictional engagement. 7

10. In combination, a charger adapted to be entered into a retort, a threadedmember operatively connected to the charger to provide its retort entering and Withdrawal movements upon rotation of the member, a motor, and a friction clutch intermediate the motor and the threaded member, said clutch device comprising a pair of members secured to the threaded member, a gear member free from direct engagement With said pair of members, and having an operative connection with the motor shaft, fric tion members carried by the gear member, and friction members carried by said pair of members, said friction members opposing said gear member and the pair of members and being arranged in alternation, and a lubricant-containing casing for said device, said gear connections acting to provide automatic lubrication to the friction members.

11. In combination, a charger adapted to be entered into a retort, means for moving the charger to provide its retort entering and Withdrawal movements, auxiliary means for manipulating the charger in the direction of such movements, and means for preventing concurrent operations of said charger moving means and auxiliary means. a

12. In combination, a charger adapted to be entered into a retort, means, for moving the charger to provide its retort entering and Withdrawal movements, said means including a motor and its circuit, and auxiliary means for manipulating the charger in the direction of such movements, said auxiliary means having a make and break device in said motor circuit.

13. In combination, a charger adapted to be entered into a retort, means for moving the charger to provide its retort entering and Withdrawal movements, said means including a motor and its circuit, and auxiliary means for manipulating the charger in the direction of such movements, said auxiliary means having a make and break device in said motor circuit, the movement of said auxiliary means to activity operating to break the motor circuit.

'14. In combination, a charger adapted to be entered into a retort, means for moving the charger to provide its retort entering and withdrawal movements, said means including a motor and its circuit, and auxiliary means for manipulating the charger in the direction of such movements, said auxiliary means having a make and break device in said motor circuit, the movement of said auxiliary means to activity operating to break the motor circuit at said make and break interruption, said interruption remaining broken during the period of activity of the auxiliary means.

In testimony whereof, We aflix our signatures 'in presence of tWo Witnesses.

HENRY A. CARPENTER. ARTHUR W. WARNER.

Witnesses:

ADA M. STEELE, J. L. HAFNER.

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

